Reclining seat mechanism



May 19, 1942- E. J. BECK RECLINING SEAT MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 28l 1939 fnverzzzor/ May 19, 1942- E. J. BECK .RECLINING SEAT MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www @NNN Led- Patented May 19, 1942 RECLININ G SEAT MECHPiNISill/IY .Ernie J. Beck, Chicago, Ill., assignor to S. Karpen & Bros., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 28,1939, serial No. 292,359 4 claims. A(01.1.5-161) This invention relates to reclining seat mechanism. It is particularly useful in connection with seats for buses, railway cars, airplanes, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide reclining seat mechanism of extremely simple and inexpensive construction which may be employed for maintaining a reclining seat in the desired angular position. A further object is to provide sturdy and compact mechanism housed Within the arm of the seat which can be readily adjusted for maintaining a reclining seat in the desired angular adjusted position. Other specic objects and advantages will appear as the specication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in whichwith longitudinal apertures 27.

Figure 1 is a broken side View in elevation of a seat equipped with mechanism embodying Vmy invention; Fig. 2, a side view in elevation of the back adjusting and supporting mechanism, a portion of the mechanism being shown in longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6, a broken sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 2.

In the illustration given, A designates a seat suitable for a railway, bus, airplane, and the like. Since the seat is of well known construction and does not in itself embody the invention, a detailed description thereof is believed unnecessary. I

The seat A is providedV with a frame I0 supported by legs II. The frame provides a hollow metal side member I2 inwhich the reclining back supporting mechanism B, embodying the invention herein, is disclosed. The reclining back C is secured at its lower end and on each side to the metal arms I3 by means of bolts, screws, etc. passing through the openings I4 in the web central portion of the arm. VThe upper portion of the arm I3 is provided with a bearing sleeve I5 which receives a shaft I6 carried by the frame. The lower end ofthe arm I3 is pivotally received in the bifurcated end of the connecting member I6. The `forward end of the member I6 is threaded to receive the connecting rod Il. The forward end of rod I'I is threaded into an enlarged plunger rod I8.

The plunger rod I8 is received for sliding movement within a tubular channel I9 provided 3I in the tubular body 2l.

by the pivoted member 20. Thefpivoted member 2U, as shown in Figure 3, is generally of an I-beam construction except that it provides centrally a tubular body 2l providing the inner tubular channel I9. The web portions 22, which join the horizontal anges 23 to the cylindrical body 2I. The forward end of the member 20 is pivoted at 24 to a standard 25 riveted or welded to the frame I2.

A spring 2S is housed within the channel I9 and normally urges the plunger rod I8 in a rearward direction. The portion of the tubular body 2I adjacent to the spring 26 is shown provided The plunger I8 is provided on its top portion with a series of spaced locking recesses or indentations 28. The f plunger I8 also carries on its side a stop head 29 secured by a threaded bolt 36 to the member I8. The head 29 moves within a slotted channel The length of the channel 3l limits the movement of the plunger I8.

The means for locking the plunger I8 in any desired position will now be described. At the point indicated by the numeral 32 and as shown in Fig. 4, the member 23 is provided with aY U-shaped recess 33. Mounted for vertical movee ment within the recess 33 is the toothed projection or slide 34. The member 34 is provided with a pair of teeth 35 adapted to engage two of the recesses 28. The member 34 is connected by a link member 36 to van actuating finger 3l by means of pin 38. It will be noted that Vthe link 3E is pivotally connected at its lower end to member 34 by pin 39.

Any suitable means for actuating the inger 3l may be employed. In the illustration given, the finger 3l is formed as an integral part of a lever arm 4l). At an intermediate point the lever arm 40 is provided with depending spaced apart ears 4I which receive a lug 42 provided as an integral extension of the member 20. The ears 4I are pivotally mounted on the lug 42 by the pin 43.

In order to maintain the seat adjusting mechanism entirely within the side frame I2, I prefer to extend the lever arm 43 to a point below a reciprocally mounted plunger 44.` The plunger 44 extends through and is guided by a sleeve 45 carried by the frame A. The plunger 44 is provided at its bottom side with a slot 46 receiving the forward end of the lever 4U. A pin 4l passes through an elongated slot 48 in the lever 4I) and has its ends received Within the divided ends of the plunger 44.

The web portions 22 extending on either side Operation In the operation of the reclining back, it will be noted that the pivoted back is normally urged toward upright position by the spring 26. Spring 26 presses plunger I8, connecting rod I1, connecting member I6 and the member I3 in a rearward direction. This causes the back C, which swings about the pivot I6, to move forwardly toward upright position. When the occupant desires to move the seat back rearwardly, he presses down upon the plunger 44 so as to actuate lever 40, the pin 41 traveling Within the slot 48 of the lever arm 40. By this movement, the actuating ringer 3l is raised and this causes the locking member 34 to be lifted, the teeth 35 leaving the recesses 28.

The plunger I8 is now free to slide Within the channel I9 and, as the occupant leans rearwardly against the seat back C, the plunger I8 is i'orced forwardly against spring 26 until the desired inclination of the seat back is reached. The plunger 44 is then released, and the member 34 drops, under the force of the springs 49, into locking position with the teeth 35 engaging the` recesses 28 brought into alignment therewith. The engagement of teeth 35 with the reo The structure is simple, compact and completely housed within the side frame I2, the only exposed mechanism being the plunger 44.

While in the foregoing description I have set for :i certain details illustrating the operation of the invention, it will be understood that suchl details may be modified and changed widely without departing from the spirit of my invention. I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction `shown and described, for obvious modii'lcations will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In combination with a seat frame and a seat back pivotally mounted thereon, a plunger arm pivotally mounted on said seat back and provided at its forward end with spaced locking indentations, an integral casting providing a central tubular member and vertical web portions on either side thereof, a portion of the upper web and the top portion of said tubular member being broken away to expose said locking indentations, means carried by the seat frame for pivotally supporting the front end of the tubular member, a locking member equipped with a pair of teeth slidably mounted in the broken away portion of said web, said teeth being adapted to engage a pair of said locking indentations, a lever pivotally mounted upon the top web of said casting and having a rearwardly extending portion pivotally secured to said locking member, and means supported in the frame for actuating said lever.

2. In combination with a seat frame and a seat back pivotally mounted thereon, a plunger arm pivotally mountedv on said seat back and provided with spaced locking indentations, an

` integral casting providing a central tubular carried by the seat frame for pivotally supporting the front end of said tubular member, a locking member mounted in the broken away portion of the web, rand means for releasably bringing said locking member into engagement with the locking indentations.

3. In combination with a seat frame and a seat back pivotally mounted on said frame, a plunger arm pivotally connected to the seat back, a tubular member receiving the forward end of said arm and provided with a vertical web extending longitudinally of the member, a spring housed within the tubular member normally urging the arm toward rearward position, means for pivotally supporting the front end of said tubular member on the front portion of said frame, said plunger arm having locking indentations therein, a lug carried by said web, a lever pivotally mounted upon said lug, a locking member slidable in said tubular member carried by the rear end portion of said lever, and means for actuating said lever to bring said locking member releasably into engagement with said locking indentations.

4. In combination with a seat frame and seat back pivotally mounted thereon, a plunger arm pivotally mounted on said seat back and provided at its forward end with spaced locking indentations, a tubular member receiving said plunger arm and pivotally carried by said frame, a vertical integral web on said tubular member extending longitudinally along the same, said member and said web being substantially coextensive in length, a lever mounted upon said web, 

